State lawmakers in Massachusetts recently proposed the creation of a $100 million educational funding pool that will enable both public and private learning organizations to borrow from the shared source when needed, reported the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Political leaders hope this investment in the state's education resources will attract more attention from federal research projects and national grant programs.
"The bill would provide funding that would enable us to be more competitive for certain kinds of federal grants," Michael Malone, vice chancellor for research and engagement at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, told the news source.
For some nationally sponsored education programs, a percentage of state funding is needed to complement the federal grant, stated the news source. Therefore, it may be advantageous to create a pool from which Massachusetts organizations can readily draw.
Additionally, the surplus funding may also be used to bring universities up to speed with the latest technologies. Schools with tech-minded professors who deploy such devices as an e-reader, a personal computer or a
DLP projector in their lessons, may also be viewed in a favorable light by federal grant programs.
State legislators stress the importance of matching federal funding with state resources, as this capability can determine the success of a grant application.
"There have been situations where we're not getting grants or we're not applying because we can't get a match," Representative John Scibak told the media organization.
